• Source:JND
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A video from Beijing has triggered widespread speculation after showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s aides meticulously wiping down every surface he touched during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The unusual spectacle unfolded on Wednesday, shortly after the leaders concluded talks following a grand military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In the footage, Kim’s staff can be seen polishing the backrest and arms of his chair, removing his drinking glass on a tray, and scrubbing the side table until no trace of his presence remained. Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev, who shared the clip on his Telegram channel Yunashev Live, wrote: “After the negotiations, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kim’s presence.”

A Well-Established Practice

This isn’t the first time Kim has employed such extreme measures. Similar clean-ups were reported after the 2018 North-South summit, the 2019 Hanoi meeting with the United States, and the 2022 Singapore summit. South Korean intelligence sources told Nikkei Asia that Pyongyang goes to extraordinary lengths to conceal any material that might reveal details about Kim’s health.

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“The physical condition of the supreme leader has a major impact on the North Korean regime,” one official explained. “North Korea makes a particular effort to seal off anything related to that, such as hair and excrement.”

These precautions reportedly extend to restrooms, with previous reports suggesting Kim travels with a portable toilet to prevent foreign intelligence agencies from collecting waste samples.

Parallels With Putin’s Security Protocols

Interestingly, Kim is not the only world leader to resort to such measures. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been reported to carry a “poop suitcase” on overseas trips to ensure his bodily waste is secured and returned to Moscow, preventing possible analysis of his health by foreign agencies.

During the Putin-Kim meeting, Kremlin reporters observed the North Korean leader’s aides wiping down furniture and collecting his glass after more than two hours of discussions. Analysts suggest the practice could be rooted in both paranoia and genuine security concerns, particularly when meetings involve rival powers like Russia and China.

The meeting took place as China marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia with one of its grandest military parades. For Kim Jong Un, it was a significant appearance, his first time attending an international gathering of world leaders.

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